Reimbursement specialists review insurance claims in the billing department and ensure that clients or customers receive accurate reimbursements for their claims. They usually work in the medical and insurance fields. Working in this position requires a strong attention to detail and a high level of familiarity with clerical and office processes.

Education Requirements

You may need a certain amount of insurance industry knowledge, but you don't necessarily need a college education to work as a reimbursement specialist. Many employers look for candidates with at least a high school diploma or GED. However, because of the relative complexity of the insurance industry, many employers look for candidates with several years of experience in the field. If you have performed related clerical work, however, you could still be considered for a reimbursement specialist position.

Primary Role and Responsibilities

Reimbursement specialists must process claims quickly and accurately, and ensure there are no errors or issues in the claim. They may also have to do a bit of administrative work, updating patients' medical files and ensuring that other members of the medical staff are aware of the changes. Some reimbursement specialist positions even do higher level of work such as investigating claims issues and making recommendations to management for process improvements.

Preferred Candidates

You can stand out from other applicants if you have experience in medical terminology, accounts receivable, insurance collections or billing. If you want to work as a reimbursement specialist but don’t have these skills, you might ask your manager or supervisor if there is a need for clerical help in your office, or if you can shadow someone in your company's accounting department to gain billing and financial experience.

Required Skill Set

Reimbursement specialists must have solid written and verbal communication skills to monitor, audit and craft reports about troublesome accounts.They also must be independent thinkers who can deal with customer inquiries and issues on their own. Reimbursement specialists must be well versed in their company’s rules and regulations, as they may have to think on the fly when interacting with an irate customer. Reimbursement specialists must deal with customers in a patient, professional and friendly way; many people who call in to discuss their claims are upset about their insurance payments, and it’s often up to the reimbursement specialist to speak to them about their situation.

About the Author

Harlow Keith has been involved in the human resources sector since 1998. He founded a human resources training company and has written several published articles. Harlow became interested in his field at the tender age of 15 while editing his father's resume.